BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :20.02.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY Parampariya Kida-Mutuvor Nala Sangam Rep. by its President, K.Prakash ... Petitioner Vs

1. The District Collector, O/o District Collector, Madurai District..

2. The Tahsildar, O/o Tahsildar, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District..

3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o Revenue Divisional Officer, Usilampatti, Madurai District..

4. The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Usilampatti, Madurai District..

5. The Inspector of Police, Elumalai Police Station, Elumalai, Madurai District. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of MANDAMUS directing respondents 1 to 3 to grant permission to conduct Kida-Muttu cultural event on guise of the Katchakari Amman Kovil Pongal festival on 15.03.2026 at Elumalai Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District based on the representation of the Petitioner dated 11.02.2026.

For Petitioner :Mr.S.Ramsundarvijayraj For Respondents :Mr.K.Balasubramani for R1 to R3 Spl. Government Pleaders Mr.A.Albert James for R4 and R5 Government Advocate

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents 1 to 3 to grant permission to conduct Kida-Muttu cultural event on guise of the Katchakari Amman Kovil Pongal festival on 15.03.2026 at Elumalai Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District based on the representation of the Petitioner dated 11.02.2026.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Special Government Pleader and learned Government Advocate appearing for the official respondents. By consent of both sides, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

3. The petitioner submitted representation to the respondents for granting permission to conduct Kida-Muttu cultural event on guise of the Katchakari Amman Kovil Pongal festival on 15.03.2026 at Elumalai Village, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai District. However, since no action has been taken on the said application, the petitioner is before this Court with this writ petition.

4. Learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents, would submit that the representation of the petitioner has been rejected by the 1^st respondent on 20.02.2026 citing the circular of the Director General of Police dated 09.09.2025, which is against the Kida Muttu event. 5. However, the learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that already this Court has granted permission to conduct the Kida-Muttu event vide order dated 18.12.2025 in WP(MD) No.36434 of 2025.

6. In the present case, the petitioner has made a representation on

11.02.2026 to conduct Kida-Muttu cultural event during the Katchakari Amman Kovil Pongal Festival and since the same has not been disposed, the present Writ Petition has been filed. However, according to the respondents, the representation of the petitioner has already been rejected. Even according to the learned Special Government Pleader, such cultural events are permitted to be conducted from the month of January to May. Such being the case, the petitioner's representation ought not have been rejected and Kida-Muttu cultural event can very well be permitted to be conducted with all precautions, without any deviation and by scrupulously following the directions under the order of this Court dated 13.08.2025, referred to in the Circular dated 28.08.2025 issued by the Director General of Police.

7. It is made clear that the Kida-Muttu cultural event shall not be stopped under the pretext of animal cruelty or by citing law and order problems. It is the duty of the Authorities concerned to see that no cruelty is caused to animals and law and order is maintained. Therefore, the respondents shall permit the petitioner to conduct the Kida-Muttu cultural event during the Katchakari Amman Kovil Pongal Festival on 15.03.2026, in accordance with the Circul